Chihuly in the Botanic Garden by Chihuly Studio
The full colour catalogue of Chihuly in the Botanic Garden is a beautiful memento of an absolutely stunning exhibition of glass sculptures by Seattle-based artist Dale Chihuly, held in the Adelaide Botanic Garden over a period of seven months. Photography by Nathaniel Wilson comprises full page coloured photographs of each installation in its garden setting frequently followed by close-up images showing all their amazing detail.
Drawing inspiration from nature, the glass sculptures in their Botanic setting both meld and contrast with the plants around them. Thus the red and orange of the ‘Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds’ is interspersed with the red of the kangaroo paw growing among the glass stalks; the golden 'Vivid Lime Icicle Tower' is in the centre of similarly hued spiked grasses and succulents; and the blue 'Walla Wallas' onion shapes float in and reflect the pond waters.
Featured on the cover, the most spectacular of all, is the purpose designed two-tier 'Glacier Ice and Lapis Chandelier' reflecting the blue glass facets of the heritage Palm House; the glasshouse to become its permanent home thanks to a generous philanthropic donation.
The catalogue presents the large-scale works in the landscape of the gardens, and smaller pieces within the rainforest setting of the Bicentennial Conservatory, photographed in natural daylight and also in their sparkling glory at night. Director of the Botanic Gardens, Michael Harvey describes the collaboration between the Chihuly Studio and the Adelaide Botanic Garden to find the unique context for each piece, ‘twin threads of art and nature’.
An essay by Tim Richardson describes the genesis of Dale Chihuly’s work from within glasshouses to outdoor exhibitions that evolve and extend the sculptural power of glass as a medium, complementing and collaborating with the landscape. The Adelaide exhibition is only the third outside the U.S., the first in the southern hemisphere. JamFactory Director Brian Parkes highlights the relevance of Adelaide as a major centre for glass art globally. If the Chihuly catalogue inspires and attracts more to explore this field of art, there is the JamFactory Glass Studio offering a training program and access to the glassblowing facility. Visitors can also view glassblowers at work, from a viewing platform.
This is not just an exhibition catalogue, it is a treasure of beauty and inspiration to explore again and again, and would be a worthy addition to a library’s art section, for readers to discover the imaginative possibilities of glass art.
Themes: Glassblowing, Art, Nature, Sculpture, Plants in art, Gardens.
Helen Eddy